Carbide water light and the like



Nov. 5, 1940.

HUNTER CARBIDE WATER LIGHT AND THE LIKE v Filed May' 12, 1938 Err? INVENTOR- flex 56f Hunter A TTORNEYS.

Patented Nov. 5, 1940 UNITED STATES CARBIDE WATER LIGHT AND THE LIKE Rex A.- Hunter, Bristol, Pa.

Application May 12, 1938, Serial No. 207,491

4 Claims.

This invention relates to gas generating and burning apparatus in which the gas is produced by reaction of a liquid with another substance: e. g., the reaction of water with calcium' carbide to generate acetylene gas. For simplicity, the reactive substance is generally referred to herein as carbide, although the invention is not limited to the use of this substance. The invention. is hereinafter explained infconnection with a convenient to form of apparatus in which a container for carbide and gas is in contact with water, or preferably afloat therein, and the water is admitted into the container to react with the carbide. For example the container may be placed afloat in a .315 bucket of water. Thus used, the apparatus is very valuable when ample light is needed for a short time, and ordinary, electric lighting is not available, as where railroad wrecks must be clearedraway at night in order to restore service as quickly as possible. The apparatus may'also be thrown into the sea, inanemergency, toenable a man fallen overboard tobe found by boats sent to rescue him. 7

Important objects of the invention include the control and regulation of the admission of water to the carbide, so as to produce relatively uniform illumination over a fairly extended period, and to obviate excessive gas pressure in the apparatus, or objectionable escape ofgas, and the prevention of sputtering or accidental extinction of the name. I also aim to provide a simple, rugged, convenient form of apparatus that can be easily and inexpensively manufactured. Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description of a species or form of embodiment, and from the drawing. All the features illustrated or described are of my invention, so far as novel.

In the drawing, Fig, I shows a longitudinal mid-section through a container apparatus conveniently embodying the invention. 1

Fig, II is a fragmentary top plan View of the container without its seal, showing its gas burner features; and Fig. III is afragmentaryview of the same end of the container from the inside,

illustrating a bafiie to, protect the burner openmgs. c,

Fig. IV is a fragmentary midsectional.view,

on a larger scale than Fig. I, illustrating the mounting of a stand-tube in the container. s

Fig. V; is a plan sectional view taken as indicated by the line, and arrows V-V in Fig. I.

Fig. VI is a fragmentary plan view of one' 'en'd of thecontainer, with it seal in place.

The apparatus here shown comprises aficiongated can-likecylin'drical j container 10 of sheetmetal, such as tin, consisting :of a tubular body shell with ends I I, I2 which are shown annularly embossed. At their peripheries l3, the ends ll, 'l'2' are shown crimped securely to the edges of the 5 body shell, and soldered thereto, both internally and externally, making tight, strong joints. Calcium carbide I4 is shown in a mass of large lumps in'the lower portion of the container, around an upstanding (copper) tube. l5connected and open- 10 ing through the container bottom I2. This tube l5 serves for the introduction of waterinto the container, ID to react with the calcium, carbide I4 Around the tube I 5, coaxially therewith, may

be mounteda pervious sleeve or screen tube l6 l5 of larger diameter, for preventing the material I4 (01' the residuesfrom the action of the water thereon) from coming in contact with the tube l5 and clogging up its water-holes, hereinafter described. The screen tube I6 may be of sheet 20 metaL'perforatd with such a multitude of fine holes as to renderit foraminous', Its upper end may be. contracted at I! to fit around the tube I5 above its uppermost hole, and maybe soldered to the tube [5, while its lower end maybe soldered p25 to the container bottom l2, against which it. abutsl v v The upper container end H is provided with a gas burner, preferablyformed by a couple of rather fine holes l8, l8 pierced through the end ,30 1

wall, as shown in Figs. I and II. As shown in i Figs. I and III, a'shield or baflle I9 is mounted directly underneath the burner openings l8, l8, being spaced belowthe top wall I l and connected thereto by peripheral lugs soldered to said wall 35 H. This bafiie l9 induces turbulence in the gas flow to the burner openings l8, 18, thereby throwing out any drops of moisture or solid par- .ticle's that may besuspended in the gas. and preventing suchmoisture'from reaching the open- 40 ings I8, l8 and temporarily clogging them. alsoshields the openings l8, I8 from solids, liquid, orbubbles. that may spit upward from the carbide. In bothways, it serves to prevent sputtering or extinction, of thegas flame from causes arising inside the container l0.

As shown inFig"; I; the standtube I5 is cen- 'trally located'in'the container l0 and extends somewhat above the calcium carbide M. It has openings at different levels for admitting'water 50 vintoflthe container; 1 The high opening is above the calcium carbide I4, preferably at the upper end 20' of the tube l 5, which is shown taperingly spunin and reduced in size. Thelow opening is considerably abovethecontainer bottom I 2, con- 55 sisting of a couple of small holes 2I, 2I drilled through the tube wall directly opposite one another. Additional openings are intermediately located, consisting of similar pairs of diametrically opposite small holes 22, 22 and 23, 23. Preferably, as shown here, the aggregate area of all the opennigs H, 22, 23 and 20 is substantially less than the opening of the tube I5 at its lower end,

which is shown unconstricted. As shown in Figs, I and IV, the lower end of the tube I5 extends down through a hole in the container bottom I2 and has a flange 24 beneath the latter, with its edge soldered fast to the bottom so as to make a strong, watertight joint.

Partly occluding the interior of the container I0, above the charge of calicum carbide I4, there is a (circular) bafile 38. As shown, this bafile 30 occupies only the center of the container II), with an annular interval all around between its edge and the circular shell wall of the container. It is advantageous to mount the baflle 30 on the tube I5, so that it may serve to spread or distribute water from the uppermost tube opening 28 more. or less uniformly in all directions upon the carbide I4, besides keeping the mass of carbide in place in the lower end of the container during transportation and storage prior to use. The baffle 30 is shown as oonically embossed upward, somewhat like an umbrella, with a central hole fitting and tack-soldered on the tapered upper end of the tube I5. As shown at 3| in Figs. I and V, the bafile 30 may be slit or slotted inward (radially) from its periphery toward the tube I5, at a plurality of equally spaced points, thus allowing water to reach the carbide in the center of the container, and also permitting the baffle to yield to upward expansion of the material I4 underneath, due to the action of the water on it. However, the interval around the periphery of the baffle 38 allows such expansion totake place to some extent without any upward flexure of the bafile.

As shown in Figs. I and II, the central portions of the container ends II, l2 are recessed inward at 33 over considerable areas,inside their annular embossments, though their'very centers 35, 36 (where the burner holes I8, IB and the tube flange 24 are located) are raised outward somewhat. In other words, the ends II, I2 are annularly corrugated both outward and inward. Such a conformation not only strengthens both ends II, I2, but also affords shelter for the central top area 35 and its burner holes I8, -I 8 against cross winds that might otherwise extinguish the gas flame. The efiectiveness of such shelter will be understood if it is realized that to extinguish a gas flame at an opening such as the holes I8, I8, the hot gases of the flame must be swept away from the very opening itself, so that there is no longer anything there to heat and ignite the cool gas issuing from the opening. Moreover, the depression of the area 33 containing the burner openings I8, I8 protects the parts within these depressed areas from damage when the device is handled and shipped.

As shown in Figs. I and III,.I may temporarily seal over the top burner openings I8, I8 and the bottom opening to the tube I5 at the factory, to prevent deterioration of the carbide I4 in the container by atmospheric moisture, befor the apparatus is put in service. For this purpose, sheet metal closure disks or covers 38 may be provided for the top and bottom recesses 33, and may be attached and sealed to the container ends ll, I2 around the'recesses, preferably in rabbeted seats 39 which may be formed in the sloping walls of said recesses. These disks 38 are shown provided with pivoted finger-hold rings 40 mounted in hinge-ears 4I suitably attached to the disks 38, as by rivets 42. The rings 40 normally lie flat against the disks 38 in the shelter of the recesses 33, as shown at the bottom of Fig. I and in Fig. VI; but when the device is to be used, they are easily swung out or up, as shown at the top of Fig. I, affording good holds for pulling off the closures 38. As shown in Fig. VI, the closures 38 are tack-soldered to their seats 39 at several (three).equally spaced points around their peripheries, alfording ample strength to allow the whole device to be carried by a ring 40, yet still allowing the closures to be pulled off with a finger inserted in the ring.

The joints between the closure disks 38 and their seats 39 may be sealed air and water tight by any suitable means, such as liquid porcelain applied after attachment of the disks. The whole exterior of the container I8 is preferably painted after completion of the device. Besides sealing the closure disk joints, the paint also secures the rings 40 at the hinge-joints and against the disk surfaces, so as to hold them seated in the recesses 33, as shown at the bottom of Fig. I and in Fig. V, until they are purposely pulled up as shown at the top of Fig. I.

For the convenience of those wishing to employ my invention, and in illustration of how to proportion the tube l5 and the associated features, I give specific dimensions of one apparatus that has been used with very satisfactory results:

Over-all length of container l8 inches 13%, Diameter of container inches 5 Diameter of burner holes I8, l8 inch 34 5 Distance apart of burner holes, on centers inch /4 Length of tube l5 inches 6% Internal diameter of tube I5 inch "1 5 Internal diameter-of reduced top opening 20 "inch; Diameters of holes in tube 2|, 22

23 inch Height of lowest holes 2|, 2| above lower end of tube inches 1% Height of next holes 22-, 22 above lower end of tube inches 2. Height of next holes 23, 23 above lower end of tube inches 4 Weight of carbide charge I4 pounds 4 Depth of carbide charge I4 in container -inches- 6 Diameter of umbrell-a-baflle 25 inches 3% Height of bafile edge above container bottom I2 inches 6 of carbide I4 soon adhere together where they are in contact, owing to the effects of atmospheric moisture.

A mode of use andoperati'on-of the-apparatus is as follows:

The seal closures 38, 38 having been removed, the device is placed top end'up in any convenient body of water, preferably not less 1 than some inches deep-as in a large bucket. A device of the dimensions above-given initially floats about 9 inches deep in the water; so that the water-line will be about 2% inches above the uppermost opening at the top end of the tube l5. Momentarily, therefore, water may stream in on the carbide M from all the open"- ings 2|, 22, 23 and 20, givingrise to abundant evolution of acetylene gas; and in a fraction of a minute, this gas is discharging at the openings [8, I 8, and canbe lighted with an ordinary match. The amount of gas'initial'ly generated exceeds the capacity of the burner l8, I8 and apressure builds up in the container Hi As soon as this pressure exceeds that of a w'at'erhead of about 2% inches, which is the height between the external water level indicated in' Fig. I and the level of the topmost opening 2!], the inflow of water at the uppermost opening 2|? ceases, reducing the rate of water supply and gas evolution very greatly. Generally, the evolution of gas in the container I0 still exceeds the capacity of the burner 8, I8, developing a higher pressure that forces the water down in the tube !5 below the openings 23, 23 and even to or below the openings 22, 22 or 2|, 2|, thus further reducing the rate of water supply to the carbide Hi and the evolution of gas. Increase of gas pressure in the container l0 increases the discharg of gas at the burner l8, l8. In this manner, a condition of at least approximate equilibrium is established between the rate of gas discharge and the rate of water inflow and gas evolution, with the water ata more or less nearly constant level in the tube l5, the dimensions of the burner openings I8, l8 and of the standtube openings 2|, 22, 23, and 20 as stated above being suitably correlated for this.

In this initial condition of equilibrium, the gas pressure in the container |0 due to reaction of water admitted through the lower holes 2| (say) with the fresh carbide in the bottom of the container counter-balances the upward pre' sure of water in the standtube I5, and keeps this water below the higher standtube openings 22, 23, 20 (say). As the bottom layer of carbide below the holes 2| becomes more and more worked out and waterlogged, the container l0 sinks deeper and deeper in the surrounding water. During this increasing immersion of the container H), such increase as may occur in the rate of inflow at the holes 2| (due to the increased hydrostatic head) tends to compensate for the tendency toward reduced reactivity of the carbide in the bottom layer. Accordingly, the evolution of gas and the gas pressure in the container [0 are suificiently maintained until the water rising in the tube reaches and passes through the next higher standtube openings 22 (say). This, of course, considerably augments the total effective area of opening available for the admission of the water, although the hydrostatic head at the openings 22 is not so great as that at the openings 2|.

As the container l0 sinks deeper in the water, the available and effective area of wateradmission opening is further augmented when the water reaches the standtube openings 23, and, finally, the top standtube opening 22. All the time, however, the water level in the tube 15, the number. of openings 2|, 22,- 23, 2%! available for admitting water, and the rate of water inf-low and of gas evolution remain under the regulative control ofthe gas pressure in the container ll): if gas is at any time evolved more rapidly than it can escape at 8,. [8, the preswill arise.

Experience has shown that the device will afford a steady light, which will burn for about two hours and a quarter or more before the carbide |4 becomes worked out.

It is to be observed that when the aggregate area of the openings 23 and 2|, 22, 23 from the interior of the container It) into the tube i5 is somewhat less than its bore and the opening at its lower end, as above described, the tube functions partly as a water-column in which. the gas-pressure in the container H) is balanced against the difference in water level around the container and in" the tube. gas pressure in th container I0 is limited to a 'head'of about nine inches. of water; for if this were ever exceeded, the gas would escape downward through the tube l0, absolutely preventing (for the time) any inflow of water to generate Thus the possible more gas, and-afford protective" shelter for the peripheral joints during transportation-andhandling of the device. Under test, it has been found impossible to obtain a'gas pressure amounting to 1 lb. per sq. in. in the container ID, at any build up in the container faster than it could be relieved through the tube. A suiiiciently free opening from the interior of the container l0 into the tube l5 above the water therein is also important.

It is further to be observed that while the baffle 30 keeps the carbide M in place in the lower end of the container l0 during transport, storage, and handling, it allows the soft lime left from the reaction of the water with the carbide to expand outward and upward past its outer edge. Nevertheless, the baffle: 3|] checks the expansion and keeps the lumps of good carbide in place, thus to a degree controlling the exposure of the carbide tothe water and the speed of gas formation. The slots 3| allow the baffle 30 to yield under moderate pressure due to the expansion of the carbide by reaction with the water, thus obviating any extreme compression of the carbide which might unduly check further penetration of water into it, or even burst the container l0. Accordingly, the baffle 3|) coacts with the standtube openings 2|, 22, 23, 2|) (which are correlated with the burner openings at I8,

I8 as above indicated) in assuring a desirably l the container wall for admitting water into the tube, and extending up in the carbide, and also having a series of restrictive openings at different elevations for supplying water from the tube to the carbide, the total area of all said water supply openings being less than the area of said water inlet into the standtube, so that the number of said supply openings accessible to the water controls the rate of inflow of water to the carbide, and the total area of opening of said burner means being many times less than the total area of the water supply openings from the standtube to the carbide, so that initially the gas pressure in the container due to reaction of the water admitted through the lower of said supply openings with the fresh carbide in the bottom of the container counterbalances the upward pressure of water in the standtube and keeps the water in said tube below the higher supply openings, while as the carbide in the bottom of the container becomes worked out and water-logged, and the container sinks lower in the water, the gas pressure in the container allows the water in the standtube to riseand pass through the higher supply openings.

2. The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein the gas burner means is of smaller capacity than the top standtube opening.

3. In a carbide water light, the combination with a carbide and gas container charged with carbide and buoyant so as to float in water, and gas burner means associated with said container and supplied with gas therefrom; of a standtube in said container having a constant inlet through the container Wall for admitting water into the tube, and extending up in the carbide, and also having a series of restrictive openings at diflerent elevations for supplying water from the tube to the carbide, the total area of all said water supply openings being less than the area of said water inlet into the standtube, so that the number of said supply openings accessible to the water controls the rate of inflow of water to the carbide, and the total area of opening of said burner means being many times less than the total area of the water supply openings from the standtube to the carbide, so that initially the gas pressure in the container due to reaction of the Water admitted through the lower of said supply openings with the fresh carbide in the bottom of the container counterbalances the upward pressure of water in the standtube and keeps the water in said tube below the higher supply openings, while as the carbide in the bottom of the container becomes worked out and water-logged, and the container sinks lower in the water, the gas pressure in the container allows the water in the standtube to rise and pass through the higher supply openings, and a baiile occluding the interior of said container above said charge of carbide and yieldingly resisting its upward expansion due to the action of water on it, and thus controlling the permeability and exposure of the carbide to the water, and the speed of gas formation.

4. The invention as set forth in claim 3 wherein said balile comprises a sheet metal disc around the standtube attached to the same, but free of attachment to the container wall and at intervals slit inward from its periphery toward the standtube, and thus rendered yieldingly resistant to upward expansion of the carbide.

REX A. HUNTER. 

